NRC wants fast upgrades at Indian Point, other nuclear plants after Japan study

Oct. 20, 2011

Written by

Greg Clary

Indian Point and the nation's nuclear plants must meet tighter standards for earthquakes, floods and spent-fuel pools after the Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted Wednesday to fast-track post-Fukushima improvements.

"These will start soon," NRC spokesman Neil Sheehan said. "It's like what we did with security after 9/11."

The vote approved the recommendations from a task force set up to analyze industry-wide readiness for a major natural disaster like the one that in March hit the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant 170 miles north of Tokyo.

The Japanese disaster — a combination of a huge earthquake and an equally destructive tsunami — displaced 50,000 households and spewed radiation into the air that has yet to be fully measured.

NRC staff will also perform a longer-term Fukushima review, but until then, areas that will see changes in the short term include the following:

• Re-evaluate seismic and flood hazards.

• Strengthen the ability to withstand complete loss of power — known as station blackout.

• Improve spent fuel monitoring instrumentation.

• Bolster emergency operating procedures.

The NRC staff should strive to complete and implement the lessons learned from the Fukushima accident by 2016, the commission said in its decision.

Officials from Entergy Nuclear, which owns Indian Point, said they're ready to make whatever improvements are required.

"Entergy supports the NRC's and nuclear industry's efforts to capture the lessons learned from Japan, some of which have already been implemented, and further enhance safety at its nuclear plants," Entergy spokesman Jim Steets said.

Plant opponents say the improvements won't solve the problems at Indian Point.

"In the past six months, a Nuclear Regulatory Commission task force found major flaws in federal standards for evacuation planning, spent-fuel storage and earthquake readiness at America's nuke plants," said Paul Gallay, head of the environmental group Riverkeeper.

"Indian Point in particular is vulnerable on all three issues," he said.

Gallay said even NRC Chairman Gregory Jaczko has been quoted as saying America's existing nuclear regulations are "no longer acceptable" after Fukushima.

"It's ridiculous to talk about relicensing Indian Point when the NRC chairman and staff alike admit that there are fundamental flaws in America's nuke-safety rules," Gallay said.